Systems and techniques to detach and reattach tabs presenting accessed objects in a multi-tab interface for a software application. In general, in one implementation, the system includes a windowed environment, and an application using the windowed environment and employing an application navigation structure. The application navigation structure includes a multi-tab user interface to objects handled by the application. The multi-tab user interface includes a tab-strip presenting opened objects in tabs including a detach interface element that causes a tab presenting an opened object to be transferred from the multi-tab user interface to a window in a multi-window user interface. The window includes an attach interface element that causes the window presenting the opened object to be transferred from the multi-window user interface to the multi-tab user interface.